We congratulate Women everywhere, especially on this platform, for being God’s pathway to mankind’s procreation and reproduction. That the Scriptures refer to them as weaker vessel will remain a mystery to us till we see God, face-to-face, in Eternity.
2 The UN theme of INCLUSION this year, is a sustained cry for humanity to treat our women, starting from the girl-child, fairly and equitably. In expanding that Theme, the UN urges Authorities everywhere to “invest in women: Accelerate Progress”. This cannot be overemphasised because of the pervading tendency, inspite of pretences to the contrary, to exclude women from many critical spheres of human developmental activities.
3 Almost everywhere in this so-called modern world, those we have identified as GATE KEEPERS are still actively at work at the Social, Economic, Political, Religious and Traditional levels, shutting the gate of opportunities against our womenfolk to excel. And these virulent gatekeepers are always not short of “reasons,” however spurious or illogical in today’s world – in spite of the striking and notorious fact that most women have excelled in the limited opportunities offered them. It then means that their continued exclusion is unjustified, wicked and self-defeating, besides the obvious fact that the perpetrators are only cutting their nose to spite their face! Our world will obviously be a better place, with progress in accelerated gear, if women are given their rightful place in the scheme of things.
4 In Nigeria, a lot is still required at all levels and strata of governance, as well as at socio-cultural and Religious levels, to allow our womenfolk to breath!
5 Our obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), together with its Protocols which Nigeria voluntarily signed in 1985, still leave yawning and embarrassing gaps. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 and the Child Rights Act, 2003 (domesticated by many state governments), are largely respected more in their breach than in observance! Impunity reigns supreme as the staggering number victims/survivors of domestic violence and out-of-school children weighs disproportionately against women and the girl-child, respectively.
6 In some areas in south-southern Nigeria, the girl-child is still being given out in “marriage” as settlement of/for unpaid or bad debts! Strange, but true, very true! Yet, the embarrassing challenge of child marriages, hooked on Religious and/or traditional rites are still as scorching as ever. Also, in the matter of giving the women their rightful places, even if by Affirmative Action still largely remains a pipe dream.
7 Here, it would appear our womenfolk are largely complicit! Why? Because they seem content, and are satisfied, with tokenism and cheer-leading! The voices of those in the forefront on the spirited campaign on Women’s Rights are dulling away; they are becoming more and more inaudible, by reason of weariness and, perhaps, age – without a whimper from their successors who now seem to enjoy living in the false and pretentious world of the social media!
8 We urgently recommend a Wake-up Alarm by way of the declaration of a State of Emergency – to be spearheaded by WOMEN’S GROUPS in Law, Engineering, Accounting, Medical, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical, etc. professions, not excluding the Academia, to rise up to the challenge of raising up a new generation of Agitators for the entrenchment of Women’s Rights, de jure, de facto, (actually, more of the latter because there seems to be no shortage Laws and Policies targeted at women empowerment and enhancement of theirrights) in Nigeria.
9 Again, we wish Women everywhere a Happy International Women’s Day, hoping that this year’s Theme will be a true springboard to gaining their God-ordained pride of place in our world.
Olukayode SENBANJO, Esq.
confluenceofrights@gmail.com
+2348035605930
(WhatsApp Only)
March 8, 2024
